Great Falls tribune. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1887-1890, 1887-09-21
THE MAIDEN TRAGEDY.
Details of the Shooting of Dennis
O'Brien-The Quarrel that
Led to it.

LEWISTON, September 15.-The Fergus
county .irgus says: "The shooting affray
which occurred last Saturday, and which
resulted in the death of Dennis O'Brien,
was, owing TO the fact that the principals
are old-tiiners and well-known through
out this country, the general topic OF con
yersation for the past few days.
The Florence mine, over which the
shooting took place. is located at Maiden
ON Crystal mountain, on the the Ft. Mag
innis military reservation, and was claim
ed by both parties, W. H. Burgess and
Murray & O'Brien.
Last week Mr. Burgess was informed
by parties that they had leased the pro-
perty from Murray Il O'Brien and that
they intended to commence work on il at
once, whereupon Mr. Burgess told them
that he owned the mine and that it should
not be worked without his permission.
soon afterward Ed. McGratn, one of the
off by Mr.. Burgess, who held possession
of the property.
Saturday morning, at about s o'clock,
while Harry johnson and Chas. Stevens
were at work On the dump for Burgess.
they were approached by O'Brien and
another man, both armed, and were order
ed to get off the ground by O'Brien
johnson said that he was working for
Burgess and would not leave until told to
do SO by the lfs'ter, and added: If you
wish to talk 10 isirgess I'll call him out,
But o'BRiEN SAID
mo, he'll come out after while O'Brien
then repeated his order for them to leave.
saying: You had better get off for you
are ceppered right now and upon being
asked by Johnson what he meant, pointed
up the hill to a man partially hidden be-
hind bull pine with gun in his hands.
johnson then left and went to the Jose
phine' claim, after crossing which, he
oked around and saw two more armed
men near the Florence He then refused
to go further O'Bren then came UP to
where johnson was and asked him to
leave the hills, saying that he world give
him anything that was reasonable if he
would leave and not witness wh3t would
take place there that day. but johnson
still refused, saying: O'Brien, I. see
tsEsiah Ssassa .sa / don't iatead e
Two or three other of the O'Brien party
the came, whenthe latter left. accompani-
ed by one of his men. After time the
party separated, taking various positions
on the hill. when Johnson, watching his
chance, made a run and got to the Flor
enee tunnel and got behind a pile of lag
ging and finally succeeded in getting to
Burgess whom he informed Of what had
occurred. They remained surrounded
until about noon when the report of Il
gun was heard. and johnson, II ho was at
some distance from Burgess asked him if
he heard a shot and was told that he had.
OfBrien had been killed.
After the shooting McGrath FASTENED to
town where Il horse was procured and the
post surgeon sent for, aud one of our citi-
gems hearing that Burgess was surround
ed by armed men, S Mt to the post COM
mander for troops, and upon the arrival
of Lieut.. Waters with detachment of
men, Burgess was takento Fort Maginnis.
The deceased man formerly lived in
Minnesota and has a mother and sister re-
siding at sOwatonna, in that state He
came to this camp from Miles City in
1881. The coroner's jury retn rned YER
dict of killed by some berson unknown.